Tendon Boots for Horses & Ponies

Jumping demands a lot from horses, especially their legs, which have extremely delicate structures. Horses’ legs are subjected to different shock levels caused by hard exercise, like dressage, and more stressful impacts, particularly in the landing phase of showjumping. Each leg supports a big part of the body and the rider’s weight during landing.

Tendon boots for horses and ponies provide excellent support and protection to jumping horses’ tendons, soft tissues, and suspensory ligaments during flatwork and jumping. They absorb impacts, and provide extra support during warm-up, flatwork, schooling, and showing. The main feature of horse tendon boots is the hard material that runs down the back of the boot. This is because disciplines such as dressage and show jumping can cause the horse to overextend their rear legs meaning the tendon area on the rear of the front legs can be struck by the hind hooves, which can cause bruises or worse, severe injuries. Also, horse legs are exposed to bruising, interference (when the horses’ legs rub or strike each other) and other injuries during jump take-off and landing, training, warm-up exercises, sharp turns, and others.

In addition, tendon boots protect horses’ delicate front tendons from shocks caused by interference during flatwork or jumping and prevent bumps caused by the poles in case of knocking a pole down or a severe impact against a fence after a bad approach, for example.

Show jumping involves extensive work; that’s why horse tendon boots are traditionally open in the front, unlike other kinds of protectors or wraps such as brushing boots, which are fully enclosed. The frontal opening helps the legs breathe, preventing them from overheating, especially the tendons, which are sensitive to high temperatures. Besides, this open front design allows horses a certain degree of sensibility so that they can feel when they rub a pole and be able to react on time. This feature doesn’t aim to penalize the horses for knocking a pole; it’s just for feedback purposes, which is necessary when jumping.

Tendon boots for horses come in many models featuring different materials, finishes, protection and support levels, cushioning, and inner lining. All models are breathable and have excellent moisture-wicking properties. Because of horses’ jumping mechanics, foreleg protectors or tendon boots are longer than hindleg protectors or fetlock boots, which are shorter to allow them the necessary freedom of movement to take off and tuck them up to clear jumps effectively. On the other hand, it is more common to see impacts provided by the hind legs on the rear upper part of the front legs.

Horse tendon boots are ergonomic, like leg wraps or brushing boots. They are moulded to conform to horses’ forelegs, providing a perfect fit, support, and comfort. You will find tendon boots are available across quite a large price range. The classic lower end ranges with hard plastic PVC protective area along with flexible neoprene lining, to top-notch models designed for high-performance jumping. Manufacturers such as Veredus are renowned for their carbon tendon boots. Higher end models like this feature harder, advanced materials like ballistic nylon and carbon fibre designed to provide higher shock absorption and support, along with offering added ventilation to the tendons on certain models. Some riders love the luxurious, smart look of sheepskin or faux fur tendon boots as well as the comfort they provide for the horse.

It’s also important to note that tendon boots are easy to fit; they feature Velcro fastenings, quick-release clips, or pin closures that help them securely in place, preventing them from slipping, which reduces their effectiveness and causes rubbing and discomfort.

Using tendon boots every time you jump is essential to keep your horse's legs protected, preventing unnecessary injuries. It is advisable to use at least some form of front leg/tendon area protection when doing any exercise, whether schooling, hacking, riding down the beach etc. For general riding most people tend to at least use brushing boots to add protection against the knocking and brushing motion, but they will at least provide some protection to the delicate tendon area, however, no harm using your tendon boots for these activities too. If you are involved in cross country, your best bet will be to head over to the cross country boots page.

Horse Tendon Boots & Wraps from Top Brands

At Discount Equestrian, we are a team of passionate horse enthusiasts; that’s why we work hard to offer the best tendon boots so that you can always enjoy the wonders of show jumping with peace of mind that your horse’s legs are perfectly protected. We selected a wide collection of the finest tendon boots for horses from the most prestigious brands, such as Equilibrium®, Harlequin®, HY®, John Whitaker®, Kentucky Horsewear®, LeMieux®, Mark Todd Collection®, Premier Equine®, Rhinegold®, Saxon®, Schockemohle®, Veredus®, WeatherBeeta®, and Woof Wear®, to suit all jumpers’ budgets and needs.

The Best Tendon Boots for Horses & Ponies at the Lowest Possible Prices

At Discount Equestrian, we have the best tendon boots for horses and ponies at the lowest possible prices for the equestrian community to enjoy.

Below, you will find a list of our staff's favourite items:

LeMieux® Impact Responsive Tendon Boots – “These LeMieux tendon boots include advanced features at a super reasonable price. They are lightweight, shock-resistant, and anatomically moulded for enhanced fetlock and tendon support. They provide enhanced shock protection with their proprietary Impact Responsive Gel, which absorbs energy and concussion resulting from jumping and eventual interference during tight turns. These horse tendon boots are also highly breathable and cool due to their exclusive ventilation channels that take fresh air from their lower vents, circulate it around the tendons, and extract the heated air through their upper ventilation slots.”

Kentucky Horsewear® Velcro Tendon Boots – “Made from a strong TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane), these Kentucky Tendon Boots offer excellent protection and breathability. Tendon ventilation is guaranteed thanks to the multiple ventilation holes at the tendon area and a triangular section made of mesh. Inside, these horse tendon boots feature a soft natural rubber piece to prevent friction. Their two Velcro® straps make them practical and simple to apply.”

Equilibrium Tri-Zone Open Fronted Tendon Boots – “These flexible, lightweight, breathable, and reasonably priced Equilibrium Tendon Boots are a cost-effective choice to offer your horse the ultimate combination of style and protection. These horse tendon wraps use a unique four-layered material combination for excelling performance. Their innovative design makes these open-fronted tendon wraps for horses an excellent choice for those seeking a refreshing, different style for their horses without losing focus on protection. Finally, if you are looking for a perfect pair of pony tendon boots, this model in XS is a perfect match.”

Veredus® Olympus VENTO Front Tendon Boots – “Veredus tendon boots have become popular among show jumping riders. These amazing tendon boots for horses have all that you would expect from Veredus products. They provide excellent protection thanks to their DD external layer with an EVA shock absorber film. Breathability is added by an ingenious cooling system that distributes fresh air vertically and horizontally along the boots through a 3D mesh ducted fabric. They are available in two colours; if you fancy a pair of classic brown tendon boots, this model is a great option in brown. If black tendon boots are your preference, we have plenty of options for you.

Premier Equine® Techno Wool Tendon Boots – “These fluffy tendon boots look refined and offer ultimate protection thanks to their high-performance double-density outer shell. The tendon’s back and fetlock covering section feature DD Kevlar and shockproof materials for extra bump absorption. These tendon boots also include proprietary Flex Tech zones for increased freedom of movement in strategic areas, and they contour the horse’s leg for enhanced performance and comfort. The Techno Wool lining is perfect for horses with sensitive skins by preventing rubbing and distributing the pressure evenly across the boot. These refined horse tendon boots are cosy and stylish, perfect for daily use or showing.”

If you need help choosing the perfect tendon boots for horses, feel free to contact our friendly Discount Equestrian team of experts. We are always happy to help!

Please check out our fantastic Fetlock Boots collection to find the perfect match for your new horse tendon boots. There are also tendon and fetlock boots matching sets available, please use the “Sets” filter on either the tendon boots or fetlock boots categories to list them.